A new public artwork, celebrating the people of Toxteth, is to be unveiled at noon tomorrow (Saturday, Nov 28)
The work, a large metal figure ‘8’ will stand on Princes Boulevard at the Upper Warwick Street junction.
The artwork was commissioned by the L8 Law Centre trustees, which is now called the L8 Legacy Projects. Children from four local schools, Windsor Street, St Patrick’s, Kingsley Road and St Silas played a part in the design of the artwork, working with local artists and social enterprise Safe Productions.
The children researched the history of Toxteth Park and King John’s deer-hunting forest, and designed their own circular templates, depicting images of deer, the king and things they thought you would find in the forest at that time.
They also produced designs demonstrating the pride they have in their local community of Liverpool 8, and the mystical powers of the number 8 with their work being incorporated into the artwork.
Community leader Joe Farrag said: “This artwork symbolises the spirit and journeys of the people of the area. This is a special piece of work that everyone will relate to, many of our ancestors arrived in Liverpool by sea and the links of the 8 reflect this.”
The installation of the 8 artwork is being accompanied by environmental works in Princes Boulevard which include the removal, and cutting back of shrubbery and the crowning of trees. This work has been carried out by Enterprise Liverpool and INES Include Environmental Services.
“This is an area which is on the up,” said Councillor Tim Moore, “and the improvements to the Boulevard will make its environment more attractive. The new artwork, which symbolises Liverpool 8 shows the pride the local community have in their neighbourhood. And the contribution made by local pupils shows what creative children we have.”
